Detachable box-cover.



PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.

H. G. ROTH.

DETAGHABLE BOX COVER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.6, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED 00T. l0, 1905.

H. G. ROTH. DETAGHABLE BOX COVER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HENRY G. ROTH, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DETACHABLE BOX-COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. l0, 1905.

Application filed February 6, 1905. Serial No.. 244,302.

To a/Z 1071/017?, t 71u01/ con/cern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. ROTH, a citi- `zen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detachable Box-Covers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its especial object to provide an improved detachable cover for cracker-boxes and boxes of a similar character; and to such ends it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

As is well known, crackers, cookies, and certain other groceries and certain classes of confectionery are sold out of boxes in which they are put up and shipped, and to afford ready access thereto and at the same time to protect the goods detachable covers, usually having hinged sections, have been applied to close the open sides of such boxes. Various devices have been provided for securing these detachable covers to the boxes. One feature of my invention is directed to improved means for detachably securing these covers to the boxes, and another feature of my invention is directed to a novel arrangement of the cover with respect to the box and of internal partitions, which adapt the box to be turned first one side and then the other side up, so that the goods may all be sold from the uppermost section of the box. This feature of construction is very desirable, because purchasers usually object to receiving what they consider the leavings at the bottom of the box, which in the case of such articles as crackers and cookies are liable to be more or less broken.

rIhe invention also comprises other novel features of construction, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a plan view showing' a box having applied thereto a detachable cover or side embodying the several features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 903 x3 of Fig. 2, showing also by dotted .lines a portion of a second boxset upon the box indicated by full lines. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, taken in section on the line 004 005 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section on the line ce of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is -a front elevation of the upper portion of the detachable cover with the hinged section thereof turned downward. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the cover with its hinged section turned downward and with some parts broken away. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line w au of Fig. 3, some parts being broken away; and Fig. Vl() is a vertical section on the line w10 w1 of Fig. 7.

The numeral l indicates a rectangular box, such as a cracker-box, shown as set with its open side in a vertical position. This box is divided into upper and lower compartments by a horizontal partition 2, detachably fitted in grooves formed in the end plates of the box.

The detachable cover is preferably, but not necessarily, of the form set forth and broadly claimed in my United States Letters Patent No. 737,776, of September l, 1903, entitled Detachable cover for boxes, and it comprises triangular end plates 3 and inclined outwardly-bulging side plates 4 and 5. The lower section 4 is rigidly, but detachably, secured to the end plates 3, preferably by screws 6. The upper section 5 affords a lid, which is pivotally connected to the lower section 4 byhinges 7 and, as shown, is provided at its upper edge with a finger-piece 3. The sections 4 and 5 are preferably provided with glass panes 4 and 5, respectively, so that the goods may be viewed therethrough.

A thin joint-strip 9, preferably of sheet metal, having an outturned iange 10, is adjustably secured to the upper ends of the end pieces 3 by screws 11, that work through vertically-elongated slots 12 in said strips. The slots 12 are provided with lateral enlargements l2, through which the heads of the screws l1 may be passed in the application or removal of said joint-strip. The panes 4 and 5 at their abutting edges are seated in split metallic tubes 13, the ends of which are flattened and rigidly secured to the sides of the respective sections 4 and 5 and afford braces which tie together the said sides.

The angular side pieces 3 of the detachable cover on their vertical edges and near the central portion of the cover are notched at 3 to afford seats for a pair of grapples 14, the members of which, as shown, are loosely pivoted to hinge-clips l5, rigidly secured to said side pieces within said notches 3, The free ends of the grapple members I4 are formed with opposing teeth 14.

Small-bolts 16 are passed IOO lIO

through the grapple members and at one end, preferably their inner ends, are provided with thumb-nuts 17. Coiled springs 18, placed on the bolts 16 between the grapple members, tend to open the said members up as far as permitted by the nuts 17. The toothed free ends of' the grapple members project beyond the side plates 3, so that they are adapted to engage the adjacent edges of the end plates of the box 1.

On their inner faces close to their vertical' edg'es the end plates 3 are formed with vertical grooves 3b, in which works slidably a vertical partition-board 19. (See particularly Figs. 3and 9.) This partition-board 19in vertical dimensions equals, approximately, onehalf the height of the box 1 when the latter is set, as shown in Fig. 3, and it is normally adjusted, as shown in said Fig. 3, so that it closes the lower compartment of said box.

Preferably one or more display tags or cards 20 are suspended from the central portion of the joint-strip 9 in position where they may be seen through the glass pane when the lid 5 is closed and through the opening afforded when the said lid is opened. Upon these cards or tags the price, the name, trade-mark, or other advertising matter pertaining to the contents of the box may be marked'.

Fig. 3 best shows the adjustments of the parts with the detachable cover applied to the box. The grapples 14 are capable of considerable lateral adjustment, so that they will catch onto the end plates of the box even when the box is considerably wider or considerably narrower than the cover. This adjustment is made clear by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. The joint-strip 9 by vertical adjustments adapts the cover for application to boxes that vary considerably in height, as clearly indicated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 3. These adjustments adapt the cover for application to boxes that vary considerably in size and for commercial use, where the boxes vary considerably in dimensions, are an important feature.

lilith the parts adjusted as shown in Fig. 3 both compartments of the box may be assumed to contain crackers or other articles, some of which are also placed in the angular compartment afforded by the lower portion of the cover between the vertical partition 19 and the lower side or plate section 4. These articles placed in this lower compartment of the cover may be nicely arranged for display purposes and need not be disturbed in selling the goods from the box. The lower compartment of the box is closed by the partitions 2 and 19, and a purchaser cannot tell whether or not this compartment contains the goods. Apparently the box will be full, or at least filled to a point above the partition 2. Vhen the upper compartment of the box has been nearly or quite emptied, the cover should be removed, the box turned upside down, and the cover then again applied. After this is done the crackers or other articles contained in the filled upper compartment may be sold out until the box is emptied.

The detachable cover above described is of course intended to be used indefinitely over and over again with different boxes in which the articles to be sold are shipped to the retailer. The cover itselfmay be easily knocked down, so that the parts may be packed flatwise in very small space. To do this, it is only necessary to remove the screws 6, thereby detaching the sections 1 and and then the joint-strip 9 may be removed,'thereby separating and disconnecting the end plates 3. The hinged sections f and 5 may of course be turned flatwise together for the purposes of packing. The partition 19 when the end plates 3 are disconnected falls froln working position. By shipping' the parts of the cover closely packed, as is above made possible, a great saving' is effected in freight rates.

1t will of course be understood that the box and the cover are capable of use in various positions. In fact, I contemplate their use on top of a counter with the open side of the box turned upward and with the cover applied thereto. Then thus applied to an ordinary counter, it has the appearance of an ornamental show-case and has the advantages already set forth in connection with the description of the box set on its edge with the cover closing the vertical side thereof.

It will of course be understood from what has been said that the device described is capable of modification within the scope of my invention, as herein set forth and claimed.

It will be understood that in some instances both of the plates L1 and 5 of the detachable cover might be hinged, in which case suitable latches would usually be provided therefor. The slidable partition 19 is capable of movement in the grooves 3b into positions in which it will close at will either compartment of the box. v

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The combination with a box, of a detachable cover provided with means for securing it to an open side of said box, said detachable cover having outwardly-converging side plates, one of which, affords a lid, and a vertical inner plate or partition extending approximately to the center of said cover and cooperating with the lower or converging side plates of said cover, to afford an upwardlydiverging pocket, substantially as described.

2. A detachable box-cover having triangular end plates, outwardly-converging side plates, one of which affords a lid, and a vertical inner plate or partition, the latter extending approximately to the central portion of' said cover and cooperating with the lower, converging plate thereof, to form an upwardlydiverging pocket, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a box having an IOO IIO

IZO

outwardly-bulged side section, provided with a lid, of a partition dividing the body of the box into compartments, and a partition separating one compartment of the box from a portion of the compartment formed within said bulged portion,substantially as described.

4. The combination with a box having a partition dividing it into two compartments, and having an outwardly-bulged extension, of a movable partition adapted to be moved from one position to another, to close either compartment of said box from the compartment ot' said bulged portion, substantially as described.

The combination with a box having a partition dividing it into two compartments, of a detachable cover therefor formed with triangular end plates, outwardly-converging walls, at least one of which is hinged, and a sliding partition movable to close either compartment of said box from the compartment of said cover, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a box and adetachable cover, of cooperating grapples applied to and working in notches Jformed in one of the said members, and engageable with the other of said members, in different angular positions, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a box and a de- I HENRY Gr. ROTH.

.lVitnessesz H. D. KILGORE, F. D. MERCHANT. 

